Spring mechanism for automatically operating switches



H. R. HARRlSON Filed Jan. Io, 1940 2 sheets-shawl ing Mechafsm Inventor: Howard R. I-arT-lson |s Attovn ey April 1, 1941.

SPRING MEcHANIsM Fon AUTOMATICALLY OPERATING SWITCHES April 1, 1941- H. R. HARRISON 2,237,001

SPRING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPERATING SWITCHES Filed Jan. 10, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ja 319 24 l] l "um:

'rd F?. Harrison,

by M76 Lm/1 His Attorney Patented pr. 1, 1941 SPRING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATCALLY OPERATING SWITCHES Howard R. Harrison,

New York Upper Darby, Pa., assignor to General Electric Company,

a corporation of Application January 10, 1940, Serial No. 313,233

6 Claims.

the disadvantage that a relatively large amount 1 of current and power is necessary in order to obtain a sufficiently rapid movement of the switch or circuit breaker for opening or closing purposes.

It has also been proposed to store energy in a device over a relatively long period of time either manually or by a low-energy input device and then to use this stored energy to operate the switch or circuit breaker. However, the mechanisms proposed for carrying out this method have been objectionable for several reasons, one

being that they occupy considerable space, another being that they are very complicated, and further that they have been relatively inefficient due to the complicated mechanism necessary. Furthermore, many of the prior devices have not been capable of being readily applied to existing nonautomatic switches without any material change in construction and without changing the mode of operation of existing systems.

It is, accordingly, an object of my invention to overcome .the disadvantages above noted in connection with the prior art energy-storage devices for automatically operating switches and to provide a more eicient and more positive arrangement for accomplishing the desired result.

t is another object of my invention to pro-vide an improved apparatus for automatically operating a switch, which apparatus occupies a relatively small space as compared to other comparable control apparatus.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an energy-storage device for operating a switch with an improved means for storing energy in said device.

A further object of my invention is to produce an automatic operating mechanism that can be readily applied to existing nonautomatic switches without any material change of construction and without changing the mode of operation of such existing systems.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as this description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with nf, ...A

particularity inthe claims annexed to and forming a part of this specication.

In accordance with the illustrated embodiment of my invention, I provide a mechanism suitable for automatically operating a switch in one direction only, either opening or closing. This mechanism may be charged either by manual means or motor-operated means and comprises two revolving drums surrounded by a large coil spring. Provision is made in the adjacent faces of the drums for latching them together when the coil spring is under tension. By arranging the drums and latching mechanism within the coiled spring a considerable saving in space is accomplished. Should it be desired to operate the switch by remote control, a solenoid arrangement is provided which trips the latching means, thereby allowing the energy stored in the spring to operate the switch. The switch may be operated either to the 'closed or the open position by means of the mechanism.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a cross-sectional View of the automatic operating mechanism of my invention; Fig. 2 is a side view partly in section of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 to show the tripped or unlatched position of the mechanism, while Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the latched positions of the drums; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2, while Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken on line B-G of Fig. 2; and Fig. 7 is an exploded view showing the rotating drums of the automatic operating mechanism while Fig. 8 illustrates the operation of the apparatus of my invention.

Referring now to the drawings, I have illustrated my invention as comprising an automatic operating mechanism including a casing or housing i0. This housing is fixedlymounted to some support by suitable bolts, not shown, which may pass through openings II provided in extension I2 integrally attached to casing Ill. The casing or housing I t entirely surrounds the internal parts of the automatic operating mechanism except on 'one side and bottom. The one side of the housing Il! is provided with a cover I3 which includes a bearing I4, while the bottom of the housing is enclosed by the cover I5. Housing Il! is also provided with a bearing I6 within which is rotatably mounted a shaftI I1 which has a reduced diameter portion I1 at the end thereof remote from bearing Iii. Keyed to the enlarged end of shaft I1 is a lever I8 which is connected through 22 is keyed at 23 to the hub extension 2| of drum .Y

28. Lever 22 is connected by suitable means 22" (Fig. 8) to the operating crank of a switch, not shown, which may be either of the tilting or rotating type. .i

In order to provide an energy-storage means for my automatic o-perating mechanism which takes up the minimum amount of space, I intation of drums I9 and 20 so as not to interfere with the tripping and charging operations of spring 24. y

When remote-controlled operation of the switch to which my invention has been applied is desired', a solenoid 48 is energized through suitable means. This solenoid 43 is mounted on an inside face' of housing i8 through suitable supporting structure 49 and, when energized, causes the plunger 50 thereof to engage against the extension 5I of trip latch 32. This forces projection 35 of trip latch 32 away from stop 36 against the force to spring lever 2 2.

clude a coiled spring 24 which surrounds both drums I9 and 29. One end 25 of spring 24 is arranged to be inserted in one -of a plurality of openings 26 arranged in a flanged extension 21 of drum I9. The plurality of openings 26 are provided in order that `the initial tension of the' spring may be adjusted. A suitable pin 28 is inserted in opening 29 located in the end 25 of springl24 in order to hold the end 25 of this spring in a particular opening 26 in flange 21 of drum I9. The other end 30 of spring 24 is held in a slotted opening 3| in drum 28 (Figs. 1 and 7) Lever` 22 will, of course, rotate in unison with drum 26 since both are keyed together at 23.

Spring 24 must be maintained under torsion so as to operate a suitable switch at the desired time and, to accomplish this purpose, I provide a plurality of latches 32 and 33 mounted in the face Y of latch drum I9 adjacent drum 28. Latch 32, best shown in Fig. 5, is a trip latch pivotally mounted on an axis 34 which is located on the falce `of drum I9 adjacent to drum 28 on the left side of the centerline of the main shaft I1 (Figs. 2, 3, and '1). 'Ilrip latch 32 has a projection 35 which is adapted to be vprojected out of the plane of the face of drum. I9 adjacent drum 29 to abut againststop 33 mounted on drum 20. A spring means 3.1 tends to rotate trip latch 32 so that projection 35 abuts against stop 36, thereby ren stricting the travel of trip latch 32 in thatV direction. Below stop 36 in the face of drum 28 adjacent drum i 9 is mounted a latch roller 38 suitably mounted for rotation upon shaft 39 which is supported in ybearings 40 projecting from the face of drum I9 (Fig. 7). 'I'he lower surface 4I of projection 35 of trip latch 32 is adapted to engage roller 38 as shown in Fig. 5 and, when thus engaged, projection 35 and roller 38 form a latch which 'prevents rotation of drum 29 and lever 22 in a clockwise direction relative to drum I9 and lever I8, looking from the left end of drum I9 in Fig. 5. Latch 33', pivotally mounted on shaft 42, is located in latch drum I9 on the opposite side of shaft I1 as is trip latch 32 (Fig. 6) and prevents rotation of the drums relative to one another in the opposite direction from the direction of rotation prevented by trip latch 32. Latch 33, however, does not engage a roller as does trip latch 32 but in-` stead slips into a recess 43 provided in the face of drum 28 adjacent drum I9 (Figs. 6 and 7). A spring member 44 tends to bias latch 33 so as to cause it to project into recess 43, whereby the surface 45 at the projecting end thereof engages a corresponding surface 46 provided in recess 43.

Cam members 41 and 41 projecting from the inner face of drum 20 adjacent latch drum I9 tend to hold latch 33 and trip latch 32, respectively, in their unlatched positions during relative ro- 31 and causes the edge 4I to slip ol roller 39, thereby allowing drum 29 to :rotate in a clockwise direction with respect to the drum I9 and causing the switch, not shown,fto be operated through Latch 33 slides alc-ng the surface of cam 41 and does not interfere with the relative rotation of drums I9 and 29. Similarly, trip latch 32 has the projection 35 thereof sliding along cam member 41 so as not to interfere with the rotation of drums I9 and 29.

In order to cut olif the current supplied to the coil of solenoid 48 after operation of the tripping mechanism has occurreol, I provide an lauxiliary switch 52 suitably mounted within casing I0. This switch is actuated b-y link members 53 and 54 attached to drum 20 at 55.

When the energy stored in spring 24 is released, it is desired that all the motion caused thereby be transmitted to the switch-operating lever 22. Accordingly, a stop 56 is provided on the exterior of casing I8 to engage with a projection 51 on lever I8, thereby holding lever I8 and latch drum I9 stationary during the release of the energy stored in spring 24.

The operation of the automatic operating mechanism of my invention will be described in connelction with an opening operation of a switch although it will be understood by those skilled in the rart that this mechanism could equally Well be used to automatically close a switch in response to remote contro-l. Figs. 2 and 8y illustrate the arrangement of the mechanism When a switch, not shown, is in the closed position with lever 22 being in the position A1 and lever I8 being in the vposition B1 as shown in Fig. 8. Lever I8 is prevented from being rotated in a clockwise direction by being :connected through I8 to the operating mechanism below, which is locked over cenlatch 32, thereby `causing, trip latch 32 to rotate about 'axis 34 and also causing roller 38 to rotate on axis 39 due to the friction at the point of contact 4I. The rotation of latch 32 causes it to slip or roller 38 and permits drum 20 and lever 22 to 'rotate clockwise looking from the direction of drum I9. This rotation is caused by virtue of the 'l stored energy in spring 24. As the drumv 29 rotates the projection 35 of trip latch 32 is held open by rubbing against cam face 41 projecting from the surface of drum 20 adjacent drum I9. Similarly, latch 33 rides along the surface of cam 41, thereby allowing free rotation of drum 29 relative to drum I9. Drum I9 and lever I8 do not'rovtate when the switch, not shown, is opened by virtue of the energy stored in spring 24 because they are held in position by the operating mechanism, either manual or otherwise, associatedwith lever I8 and member I8' and also by stop 56 and projection 51. When the spring energy is released, lever 22 assumes the position A2 shown dotted in Fig. 8.

In order to reset the spring 24, the operating handle I8 associated with lever IB is brough-t down to the open position, which causes lever I8 and drum I9 to rotate clockwise, referring to Fig. 8. This brings trip latch 32 to the position so that the projection 35 is forced into engagement with roller 38 and latch 33 is forced into recess 43 by means of springs 31 and 44, respectively. While drum I9 is being rotated by lever I8, the spring is wound up, causing it to be charged when latches 32 and 33 drop into their respective positions. During this part of the operation, the switch, not shown, remains in the open position with the lever 22 in the position Az in Fig. 8. By charging the spring, lever I8 is moved from the position B1 to the position B2. By this arrangement, the effort required to charge the spring is independent of and, consequently, not added to the force necessary to close the switch. Fig. 3 discloses the tripped or unlatched position of the drums when drum I9 `is still in the position illustrated in Figs. l and 2 but lever 22 has been rotated to the position A2 by virtue of the energy stored in the spring. Fig. 4 discloses the drums when the levers 22 and I8 are in the positions A2 and B2, respectively, of Fig. 8, that is, when the spring has been charged but the switch, not shown, is still in the open position.

When the two drums I9 and 20 are in their latched position thereby maintaining the spring 24 in Ithe charged condition, levers I8 and 22 are locked together so that the switch, not shown, may be closed by moving lever I8. It will be understood, of course, that the switch may be either opened or yclosed by movement of lever I8 when the drums I9 and 20 are latched together.

While I have shown and described a particular embodiment of my invention for automatically operating a switch or circuit breaker, I do not desire my invention to be limited to the construction shown and described for it will, of course, be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may -be made Without departing from my invention and I, therefore, aim in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In va control apparatus for a switch, the combination of a plurality of drums coaxially mounted for relative rotation with respect to one another, energy-storage means surrounding said drums, latching means mounted in lthe face of one of said drums adjacent the other drum for holding said drums in xed relationship to each other, and means for tripping said latching means so that energy-storing means causes rotation of one drum relative to the other.

2. In a spring-operated mechanism for controlling a switch, the combination of a pair of lever arms, a pair of drums, one each of which is xedly attached to one of said lever arms, said drums being coaxially mounted and relatively rotatable with respect to each other, a spring surrounding said drums and having the ends thereof attached to one each of said drums, a plurality of latches mounted in the face of one of said drums, a plurality of members mounted on the face of the other drum for cooperating with said latching means to hold said drums in fixed relationship with one another when energy is stored in said spring, and tripping means for releasing one of said latches from said members whereby rotation of one of said lever arms and drum relative to the other lever arm and drum is caused by the stored energy in said spring.

3. In a control apparatus for a switch, a switch-operating member, a coiled power spring for supplying the energy for operating the switch, means including a drum and latching means mounted within said coiled spring for releasably holding said spring in wound position, and means for releasing said holding means.

4. In a control apparatus for a switch, a switch-operating member, an energy-storage device comprising a -coiled spring, means for releasably holding the energy stored in said spring comprising a plurality of drums and latching means mounted within the confines of the said coiled spring, means for connecting said energystorage device with a switch so as to transmit the energy stored in said device when released to operate said switch, means for releasing said energy stored in said spring, and means for charging said spring independently of the opera- -tion of said switch.

5. In a spring-operated mechanism for operating a switch, the combination of a plurality of drums -coaxially mounted for relative rotation with respect to one another, energy storage means surrounding said drums, latching means mounted in the face of one of said drums adjacent the other drum, stop means mounted in the face of said other drum cooperating with said latching means for holding said drums in fixed relationship with respect to one another, means for tripping said latching means so that said energy storage means causes rotation of one of said drums relative to the other, and means for holding said latching means inoperative during said relative rotation.

6. In a spring-operated mechanism for controlling a switch, a switch operating member, an energy storage device comprising a -coiled spring, means for releasably holding the energy stored in said spring comprising at least one drum and latching means mounted within the confines of said coiled spring, means for connecting said energy storage device with said switch-operating member so as to transmit the energy stored in said device when released to operate said switch, means for charging said spring independently of the operation of said switch, Iand means for manually operating said switch without aiecting said energy storage device.

HOWARD R. HARRISON. 

